Kalladi Koraga Shetty Yaksha Pratishtana was presenting awards to artistes in memory of Kalladi Koraga Shetty for the last three years.

M. Mohan Alva, honorary president of the revamped pratishtana, told presspersons here on Saturday that Vitala Shetty had taken the lead in organising the awards function at Ira Sri Somanatheshwara Temple at Kundavu in memory of his father, Kalladi Koraga Shetty. With his death, fans and well-wishers decided to reconstitute the committee and continue the tradition.

Noting that both father and son made immense contribution to `Thenkuthittu' style of Yakshagana during their lifetime, Dr. Alva said they were pioneers in promoting this style. While Koraga Shetty used this as a means of bringing youth into the fold of Yakshagana, Vitala Shetty took it a step further by bring in stage innovations.

Dr. Alva said the pratishtana has decided to present the awards to Kodakallu Gopalakrishna Bhat (Hasyagara), Kedagadi Guddappa Gowda and Karuvolu Deranna Shetty (Veshadaris) and Kotekaru Deranna Rai at a function to be held on the temple premises on Tuesday. Each will receive a purse of Rs. 5,000 and a citation.